EU Ombudsman confirms EMA's correct handling of declared interests

European Medicines Agency executive director Professors Guido Rasi’s tenure in the post has had its dramatic moments, since the annulment of his 2011 appointment in 2014 after allegations that the recruitment procedure had been wrong by Emil Hristov, a former top Bulgarian drug regulator, who applied for the job but was left off the shortlist.

He made a comeback in 2015, but there was still a question mark over Prof Rasi’s declaration of interests, which last week was also clarified by a ruling from the European Ombudsman, concluding that there had been no maladministration at the EMA.

In a press statement on Friday, the EMA said it welcomes the decision by the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, that there was no maladministration in its handling of the declaration of interests of its executive director.